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Mission statement

The World Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (WRLFMD) is a OIE and FAO reference centre. The OIE and FAO have designated reference laboratories with scientific and technical expertise within the areas of animal health, public health and zootechnics to help prevent, control and eradicate major animal diseases. Descriptions of the roles of the reference centers/laboratories can be found below.

The Expert, responsible to the OIE and its Member Countries with regard to the disease, should be a leading and active researcher helping the Reference Laboratory to provide scientific and technical assistance and expert advice on topics linked to diagnosis and control of the disease for which the Reference Laboratory is responsible.

Reference Laboratories should also provide scientific and technical training for personnel from Member Countries, and coordinate scientific and technical studies in collaboration with other laboratories or organisations, including through the OIE Laboratory Twinning programe.

A complete list of OIE Reference Laboratories is available on the OIE website.

One of FAO’s global missions is to provide field and technical support to its member countries to prevent or control major diseases of poultry, livestock and wildlife. FAO can better fulfil its obligations in promoting livelihoods and safeguarding animal health in partnership with institutions – academic, research, laboratories and others – that have expertise in areas such as veterinary diagnostics, vaccines, research, biocontainment, epidemiology and wildlife health.

The Reference Centres designated by FAO are regarded as centres of excellence in providing scientific and technical expertise, diagnostic services, laboratory and field training, in coordinating research and developmental studies, and in contributing to FAO projects.